Straddle carrier
AssigneeKress Corporation
InventorWilliam L. LaBerdia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A straddle carrier for heavy loads of the type which is driven over a load so that the load is generally beneath the carrier and straddled by the wheels of the carrier. The carrier includes a main frame which has a gripping tong mechanism integrally mounted thereon for clamping the load. The entire main frame and tong assembly may be raised and lowered to permit handling the load by means of cylinder/strut arrangements at each of the four wheels. A pair of hydraulically actuated steering cross bars are pivotally connected to the front and rear wheels, respectively, in order to steer the straddle carrier. Mounted on the main frame, and like the main frame lowered and raised relative to the wheels, are an operator's cab and a motor and pump housing for driving the straddle carrier and actuating the various hydraulic cylinders of the carrier.
Claims7
A straddle carrier for heavy loads comprising:
- a plurality of spaced-apart, ground-engaging wheels, the relative positions of the wheels generally defining a loadencompassing area;
- a main frame supported by the wheels for vertical movement relative to the wheels;
- means for raising and lowering the main frame and the gripping means relative to the wheels;
- gripping means mounted on the main frame for gripping a load in the load-encompassing area, the gripping means comprising at least one pair of opposed gripping members each pivotally mounted to the main frame, each of the gripping members having an upwardly extending portion beyond the point of pivotal connection to the main frame and a downwardly extending portion beneath the point of pivotal connection, the gripping means further comprising a selectively extensible hydraulic cylinder and associated rod connected between the upper portions of the pair of opposing members;
- and
- stabilizing means connected between one of the gripping members and the main frame to prevent the pivoting of said one member relative to the main frame and thereby prevent relative movement between the members, a gripped load and the main frame while the carrier is in motion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.